SACO — Gov. Paul LePage’s town hall-style forum came to a chaotic end Thursday night when a former Democratic state lawmaker was hauled away by state police after she angrily confronted the governor, shouting that his budget proposals were harming low-income Mainers.

Joanne Twomey, a former Biddeford mayor and legislator known for her outspoken manner, approached the stage at Thornton Academy and tussled with security before flipping a jar of Vaseline onto the stage near LePage’s feet. An officer immediately grabbed the jar off the stage as she was being escorted away.

Gov. Paul LePage discusses his tax reform plan at a town hall forum in Saco on Thursday night. The session came to a halt after a vocal disturbance by Joanne Twomey. John Patriquin/Staff Photographer

Members of the crowd both cheered and jeered Twomey, as well as the police response. LePage left the stage immediately afterward.

Peter Steele, a spokesman for the governor, said later that it was unfortunate the forum ended the way it did.

“Law enforcement takes that very seriously,” Steele said. “You’re not allowed to rush a sitting governor. She had something in her bag and it looked like she was reaching for it and they sprang into action. It was unfortunate, but there’s zero tolerance.”

Twomey had not been charged with any crimes as of Thursday night, and Steele said he was not sure if police would pursue the issue.

Afterward, Twomey defended her actions while talking to the media and other forum attendees, several of whom accused her of “ruining” the event.

“What he is about to do to this state, you have to be out of order,” Twomey said. “You cannot live with those policies and not speak up.”

TENSIONS OVER BUDGET AND TAX PLANS

The incident came near the end of a forum during which LePage laid out his tax cut and budget proposals before answering questions from audience members. Much of the forum was routine and included several respectful exchanges between LePage and audience members who were critical of his two-year budget plan. Other audience members thanked the governor for his proposals and cheered his unapologetic responses to critics.

But the atmosphere became more tense when an audience member asked LePage about his plans to allow municipalities to tax nonprofit organizations with more than $500,000 in property value as part of his proposal to eliminate revenue sharing to communities. When LePage suggested the policy would primarily affect private colleges and hospitals, members of the audience responded with loud “No’s.”

“I’m concerned about the nonprofit day camps, overnight camps, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts,” said Jean Leach, president of Camp Laughing Loon in East Waterboro.

When another woman suggested that nonprofits would have to reduce programs, LePage responded that Mainers will have more money to support nonprofits if the Legislature approved his proposal to reduce income tax rates.

“Didn’t I not say that I was going to put $1.3 billion back in your pockets? Why don’t you give them a little bit?” LePage said.

Twomey, who was seated in the front row of the audience, stood up and began a heated back-and-forth with LePage after the governor said that, under his long-term plan, Maine would no longer have an income tax in 2020.

She apparently came to the forum intending to confront the governor about his budget plan. On her Facebook page Wednesday night, she wrote: “I have researched all that I want for ammunition tomorrow night, have my notes and will speak up, and they will not shut me up. I will be respectful, but I will be heard and if they try to shut me up I just may have to get handcuffed, it won’t be the first time, and it probably won’t be the last.”

REMINDER OF GOVERNOR’S PAST REMARK

After the meeting, Twomey said she planned to hand the jar of Vaseline to the governor, but tossed it when security guards pulled her from the stage. In a high-profile incident while lawmakers were finalizing the state’s last two-year budget in 2013, LePage told a camera crew that a Democratic state senator “claims to be for the people, but he’s the first one to give it to the people without providing Vaseline.”

Twomey represented the city of Biddeford in the Maine House from 1998 to 2006. She also served two terms as Biddeford’s mayor and ran unsuccessfully for the position again in 2013.

LePage’s appearance in Saco was the latest in his town hall-style forums being held around the state to promote his budget and tax plan. The Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee is starting to delve deeper into the governor’s two-year, $6.5 billion budget but is not expected to finalize its work until June. With Democrats controlling the House and Republicans controlling the Senate, the end product is expected to look significantly different than LePage’s proposal.

He wants to cut the top income tax rate from 7.95 percent to 5.75 percent and raise the income threshold for applying the top tax rate to $50,000. He also has proposed eliminating the estate tax, as well as income taxes on military pensions.

To help offset those revenue losses, LePage proposed increasing the sales tax rate to 6.5 percent from 5.5 percent and applying sales and use taxes to hundreds more goods and services in an effort to capture more money from tourists.

“In the summer months, 26 (million) or 27 million people come to Maine in three months … and they are enjoying the beauty of the best time of our state, so we are going to charge them a little premium for being here,” LePage said Thursday night, sparking applause from many in the audience.

ABRUPT ENDING TO ‘CONSTRUCTIVE NIGHT’

But the governor’s proposals to increase and broaden the sales tax – similar to one defeated at the ballot box by Republicans in 2010 – and to eliminate revenue sharing to municipalities have encountered resistance from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, as well as left-leaning organizations. LePage seems resigned to the fact that some of his most ambitious proposals will not survive the Legislature’s budget-writing process, even telling audience members Thursday night not to worry about the nonprofit tax because “the Legislature is going to take it out.”

But he also has shown increasing willingness to play political hardball with lawmakers from either party on the budget.

On Thursday morning, LePage told attendees at a Brunswick business breakfast that he would veto bills in order to pressure lawmakers to go along with his budget plans, including his proposal to divert $5 million from increased timber harvesting to help people convert to more efficient home heating systems.

“It’s about leverage,” LePage said, explaining that if he doesn’t “get $5 million to help people get low-cost heating systems, they don’t get what they want.”

Many Saco- and Biddeford-area legislators were in the crowd during Thursday’s forum and expressed disappointment at the way it ended.

“It really interfered with a constructive night,” said Rep. Barry Hobbins, a Saco Democrat who has known Twomey for years.

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lancecashman

Stay classy, Biddeford.

methewaylifeshouldbe

Yes, because we know the governor doesn’t have to.

Brian Peterson

Lewiston by the Sea…..

bootjack

Biddeford has it’s problems but so does every city and town in Maine. It’s tax rate is among the lowest of cities in the state. There are many areas of Biddeford that are nice and things are beginning to happen in the downtown.
Like many Maine cities Biddeford is the receptacle for all the problem people from the surrounding towns in the area. Maybe those towns should take care of their own people instead of being irresponsible and passing their care onto others.

care29

It doesnt help that we were once a mill town. Since the mills closed some generations ago, the families stayed hence generational poverty and welfare, just a thought? Look at sanford and lewiston, very similar to biddeford.

Guest

Biddeford, where geniuses hold up a dollar store with a rifle…

Chuck Fagone

Must be a member of the Green Party

Ann K Swasey

Yea! Joanne. It’s the only language hr understands. It’s OK for him to interrupt a meeting in Falmouth. …but not ok for others…..TYRANT!

Brian Peterson

try that with Obama and see what happens. See you when you get out.

Minimainer

Pfft. Big dif between a president who has all his marbles and a gov. who obviously doesn’t.

Ann, thanks for being one of those self professed open minded, inclusive, diverse persons by calling our Governor a tyrant. Our president does display those tendencies but somehow you’re off in a cloud unaware and don’t care. Partisan Moonbat!

Rocky_Marshall

Any reason you folks are leaving out that she threw an object at the Governor?

Biddoguy

should have been something bigger

Minimainer

Quote from the article: “flipped a jar of Vaseline onto the stage near LePage’s feet … ” He deserved to have it thrown at him; the man’s a menace to Maine.

Rocky_Marshall

Updated version includes the info, not what was posted the first few hours. Way to be on top of things though.

Lapushka

Were you there?

Rocky_Marshall

Is is that you don’t know about the video tape of the act or that you hope I don’t know about the video?

Lapushka

I didn’t know about the video at the time and was actually curious if you were there. I have since seen the video, and while I don’t agree with her actions, it certainly wasn’t “violent” as I’ve seen many claim. She was going to give him the Vaseline, and when his security took her away she tossed it at his feet. If she chucked it at his head, yeah that would be violent, but she didn’t.

bootjack

Now let’s analyze this. The Governor is traveling around the state to explain his tax proposal. People took time out of their evening to attend and hear what the Governor had to say. Some are still in the process of forming an opinion.
So Biddeford’s former Mayor decides to turn the evening into a 1960’s era shouting match?
Former Mayor Twomey’s heart is in the right place. But laws and budgets aren’t made according to the heart but with the head. And this type of behavior does nothing to enhance the debate.
Shame, shame, shame.

geowaldman

The governor called on her, could not answer her questions, directed his security to remove her and left the stage ending the meeting himself.

Really ???

Not the best way to handle it . Needs to be able to stay in the room so people can hear the truth.

mainemajority

Why isn’t the PPH covering the real story? Was the throwing of vaseline organized by the new FAR, FAR LEFT, Karl Marx Democrat Party of today? The governor should press charges!

asportsfan

And the Vaseline was thrown at what point? You can see a jar kind of chucked onto the stage, but it wasn’t thrown at the governor.

Credi

Thats not the republitards narrative, they wont allow the truth to be spoken in the face of video evidence.

Brian Peterson

Like I said further up- try that with Obama !…. Pack a bag for a LONG stay in prison before you do.

TammiMoore99999

She looks like she smells like pee.

5thgenme

You look like you smell like tea

Saco resident

I was there and the problem was LePage did not like the discussion concerning nonprofits and his inability to defend his proposal. Ms. Twomey was definitely riling the Gov. But with that said the Gov.’s security had no reason to put their hands on her. I found it funny that the Gov.’s handlers felt the need to end the forum, probably fearful that LePage would lose it and say something stupid.

Lolasdad

PPH censorship means that its readers don’t get to hear that this wingnut threw a jar of Vaseline at the Governor of the State of Maine. The headline reads as if the assailant was the victim! Trash journalism. Democrats must be so proud……

Ed Lorusso

She placed it on the stage… watch the video or shut up.

Lolasdad

Ed. You’re pretty rude to folks. You wouldn’t by any chance be a Democrat?

Michael conservative

Ed you need to return to reality

care29

I just read twomey’s own comment on this very article and she herself used the word THREW. you need to get it straight. Her words!

bootjack

It looks like she placed a jar on the stage and one of the security guys scooped it up quickly. She didn’t throw it.
She shouldn’t have disrupted the forum like that but as far as any threat goes that’s stretching it.

Ed Lorusso

She was called on to speak. Lepage specifically called on her and the said TAKE HER OUTA HERE when he couldn’t answer the questions or respond to her comments.

bootjack

Looking at the video Lepage escalated the matter and Twomey fell right into the trap as she often does. Being familiar with it. My sympathies are with the other people in the audience.

Michael conservative

If the facts don’t fit the narrative Ed just make some up

Achya

Good for her.
Gov. LePage wants the town-hall forum but is afraid of the townspeople.

jrly

Everyone is afraid of nutty liberals.

matissehenri

especially softie conservatives who talk the tough business but cry and whine like babies when tested.

maineman11111

Maine people voted for Lepage TWICE

Birchwind

Just like people actually voting for Obama twice!

Michael conservative

Thanks to Harry Reid lying on the Senate floor and Candy Crawley lying about terrorism and the Rose garden

kennebunkportindependent

If you add the percentage of votes he received in both elections, it just about created a majority vote.

He won because the Dems fielded two week candidates.

Guest

Once a nutjob, always a nutjob…

bootjack

The thought comes to mind that maybe these two people deserve each other. The similarities outside of political philosophy are striking.

kennebunkportindependent

True. There is more than a passing resemblance between Biddeford and Lewiston.

Guest

They can shut down the trash incinerator, but the trash remains.

kennebunkportindependent

Blaine House has an incinerator?

Joanne T Twomey

Excuse me, the Governor saw me shaking my head as I was seated right in front of him, he looked right at me and said your shaking your head don’t you believe me, that is when I stood up to answer him, I wanted to tell him what I thought of his budget, and to use his quote ” You can take your science, your facts and all your baloney and shove it where the sun don’t shine without Vaseline” his words, so I thought I would buy a jar of Vaseline and tell him I thought he could do the same with his budget only I was nicer and wanted to hand him the jar of Vaseline. I did not get to that because the Governor and I were arguing about his budget, and all of a sudden I was attacked, I had the Vaseline in my hand and threw it on to the stage, not at the Governor, and I did not speak out of turn, I was answering his question.

Frank Smith

Your a class act Lady…
Said no one!!!
Way to act and make your city look like scum that most think it is..

Christopher White

It was the Gov. and his over anxious goon squad that blew this totally out of proportion. The Gov. is ‘happy’ to have a ‘dialogue’ … provided you agree with his views or meekly accept a BS answer. When someone who has served as mayor, worked on tax issues, and has facts to refute some of the nonsensical partisan rhetoric spouted by the Gov. begins to argue back, that can’t be allowed to go on.

bootjack

It’s interesting that the Governor chose to wait until after the election to reveal his ideas on tax policy. Maybe if he had those ideas could have been debated during the campaign where the should be debated. And people could’ve been informed voters.

Frank Smith

Oh yes she is just wonderful.

Guest

Why don’t you remove yourself and spare the good and decent people of Biddeford further embarrassment?

James A.

Why don’t you post with a real name?

Ed Lorusso

Why don’t you?

care29

Biddo has more uninvolved than involved citizens. (Most are low information voters & useful tools) Remember, they are poor and uneducated, they ned Ms. twomey to speak for them, but lately she’s been busy prepping with vaseline. However, I do wish she would just go away already.

guest

Twomey is clearly correct. It was an open town hall and the Governor
clearly looked at Twomey and addressed her for shaking her head.
Stephen King is right in saying “some guys are a lot better at dishing it out
than taking it back.” Good job Twomey. I’m glad the Governor doesn’t
think he is going to have an easy time selling his garbage in Southern
Maine. I found the moderator to be rude and obnoxious in the YouTube
video. It’s also sad that LaPage sicced his dogs on a little old lady and
rough her up the way they did. For people calling Biddeford trash; this
whole state is trash. Only trash would find this acceptable.

Brian Peterson

You must be Democrat – tell you what: try throwing something at Messiah Obama and see what happens. You can tell us all about it when you get out of the federal pen in about 15 years. Laws apply to liberals too, not just the rest of us.

Christopher White

Oh, grow up! You don’t seriously think an aging woman tossing a jar of vaseline at the feet of the President would result in a 15 sentence in Federal prison. You just keep seeking to deflect the discussion from our Governor’s inability to deal with anyone who is half as rude and insistent as he is and who holds a different view of the Gov.’s plan to further line the pockets of the rich while picking the pockets of working Mainers.

Michael conservative

It might get you 30 days in the county jail as it should

Calli Sol

Imagine if she tried to throw a shoe and fell over, the PPH would blame Lepage for it.

Brian Peterson

Well, I was once photographing Teddy Kennedy back in 81 when he was running for President, and my jacket just TOUCHED the car he had gotten out of ……he wasn’t in sight. An SS guy grabbed me and leaned over me and told me that if I DID THAT AGAIN I’d be arrested. You have NO idea……

matissehenri

Brian, what’s the right becoming so soft these days? What happened to don’t tread on me? What a bunch of softies you all have become. Also, your comparison of Lepage to Obama is akin to Jabba the Hut and Han Solo!

Michael conservative

you do not have the right to assault someone

Christopher White

If anyone was ‘assaulted’ here it was Ms. Twomey, not Gov. LePage. Anyone who actually watches the video can see the Governor remaining in his seat, with no one around him, and untouched by any ‘flying objects.’ Ms. Twomey, on the other hand, is man handled by a number of the Governor’s ‘protection detail’ for the sin of yelling back when he refuses to engage in honest dialogue with her.

Frank Smith

I remember the left not being to happy when Obama was called out at the state of the union with a “You Lie”. But thinking back the “You Lie” comment was 100% correct…

kennebunkportindependent

Here is a lesson: ALL politicians lie sometime.

care29

doesn’t make it ok or right.

kennebunkportindependent

If any assault (or battery) occurred, it happened when the bodyguards (are they on a state payroll) touched her.

Instead of defending your actions…why not take this opportunity to speak about a tax plan that helps the people you say you speak for? Why are you here still talking about vaseline? You should have taken the chance to speak for the poor when the mics were stuck in your face, instead you simply said you were unapologetic and proud. ME ME ME …that is what is always was and will be with you.

donbro

Unlike Democrat question and answer forums, the Governor did not take any layup questions. All of the questions asked forced LePage to answer major objections from Liberals and he did so admirably.

Ed Lorusso

You been he answered questions he had practiced answers for… it’s called a STAGED EVENT, a typical right-winger ploy.

Michael conservative

Really Ed Hilary does that all of the time

Christopher White

More deflection and refusal to admit what anyone can see when Gov. LePage shows himself (again & again) to be a rude bully out to insult and demean any who dare disagree with him and his ‘soak the poor to enrich the rich’ policies.

Calli Sol

having a bi-polar day again, or is it your obsessive-compulsive moment of shame?

Christopher White

There are terms for individuals who hide their identities behind pseudonyms and lob personal insults on internet threads.

kennebunkportindependent

I doubt she will be the next president.

donbro

I can only guess what your illiterate comment says. However, if you are saying they were fixed questions, you obviously were not there and would not know the format.

donbro

I was there and the woman lacked any kind of class. She didn’t look like a former mayor, but a mentally-ill street person having a meltdown.

Guest

She was a mentally ill street person when she WAS mayor.

Jim

Having dealt with LePage in office for so long has reduced me to a mentally ill street person too, so I can’t blame her entirely haha

Devonshade

I applaud Joanne Twomey. More people should confront this cheap suited bully thug on his policy to reward the rich and crush the middle class and poor in Maine.

RoseBench

Crush the poor? Really? You still using that worn out analogy? Reward the rich? Yeah, right. Why would we reward those who make the gears of this state turn? Let’s just step on those with the initiative to start businesses, employ THE POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS you refer to, etc. That makes sense.

Christopher White

Huh? Your comment makes little to no sense. The Governor’s tax plan is classic ‘trickle down’ economic theory. This has been the dominant theory of the GOP since Pres. Reagan. The result has been the greatest percentage and total amount of wealth & income in the hands of the 1% since the Gilded Age combined with a huge increase in the numbers of those falling into poverty. In short … this approach enriches the rich and impoverishes the poor.

Michael conservative

Christopher I am not totally on board with the governors tax plan but you do have to admit that broadening the sales tax although it is regressive would force people who currently do not pay taxes such as drug dealers, prostitutes and people who earn income but don’t declare it to contribute to the state coffers

Christopher White

I certainly do not have to admit such a silly and distorted bit of nonsense. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Frank Smith

So are you saying there is no black market economy?
Where cash is paid under the table?

bootjack

And there will continue to be. Happens in every state with a Sales Tax. In Maine’s case easy ride to NH.

Calli Sol

N.E. sales tax avgs. about 7%, we are the cheapest by far. ….and then there is Florida the queen of consumer taxes.

bootjack

New Hampshire, our closest neighbor has NO sales tax. Comparing Maine to other states with far better economies is like comparing apples and oranges. Maine is an economically depressed state small increases in prices or costs makes a difference here.

matissehenri

Wow, imagine the income BOOM when Maine’s drug dealers and prostitutes start paying their fair share!

Michael conservative

I am sure there are many contractors that work and don’t pay taxes and other ill gotten gains as well

matissehenri

So Michael now compares drug dealers and prostitutes to contractors in bilking the system. Was that a Meghan Kelley episode where you got that one?

Calli Sol

There is an ‘underground economy’ in Maine, but its Democrats who seem to profit from it the most.

DefNotADem

How is decreasing the tax rate and increasing the minimum threshold trickle down ? A lot of middle class families will pay less income taxes.

Calli Sol

The wealthy buy goods and services from artisans, crafts people, and human service providers like massage therapists. Their wealth sustains a huge middle class of such providers. When Hinckley and other yacht builders cut their work forces in half, it was a wake-up call that ‘trickle down’ economics really does work….I guess if you had a job, you’d understand.

bootjack

The wealthy actually aren’t the biggest spenders in the consumer economy of Maine. Luxury cars and boats maybe, but that is only a small part of the economy.
I ran a business for many years and the vast amount of my customers were Middle Class. There are far more people with $50-100 to spend than who will spend $1,000. F W Woolworth proved that theory. So did Walmart.

bootjack

Middle class business owners are the ones with the most employment growth. They will also bear the brunt of this poorly thought out tax policy.
Lepage says “You can control what you buy”. That’s true, but at the same time he’s encouraging people not to buy which cuts the throat of our consumer economy.
Tax cuts should be based on reduction in government spending not expanding other taxes. A few years ago the legislative Republicans were pushing that idea and I hope they stick with it.

If_you_ask_me

Dang. Can’t get the video to play on my computer.

kennebunkportindependent

It is on youtube.

Lindiwe Krasin

Glad I missed it. But it is probably one of the funniest THINGS I HAVE EVER SEEN. EVER. HANDS DOWN. THE GUY HAS swagger. The right won. The left are LAZY. YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

diogenese2

If Vaseline is outlawed, only outlaws will have Vaseline !

bootjack

When Twomey was Mayor of Biddeford taxes increased very little while surrounding towns had major increases. The city did a major renovation of the High School on it’s own dime and that was the sole reason taxes rose at all.
Twomey had attracted a major Racino development to Biddeford and got it passed at the local level before it was defeated in a state vote.
She should never have disrupted the meeting as she did. That was wrong. She should have considered the other people who came to the meeting and may have wanted to ask questions.
But that is Twomey. You take the good with the outrageous.
For those defending the Governor here can you actually say that he is any different than Twomey? His outrageous statements have embarrassed our state. His lack of transparency is a major concern. In a film clip showing him speak to his tax policy he acted like a man with dementia.
Perhaps the issue is with the electorate. We need to analyze our candidates more carefully and elect calmer people with better rationalization skills.

arealmainer

Are you serious? Biddo is a cesspool…full of lazy unemployed on section 8…drive around there some day on a weekday. She is a certified nut job…she belongs in OOB!!!

bootjack

Ever note the people who wind up in the news for committing crimes in the Biddeford area? Very few are long time residents of the city. Many come from out of state or other parts of Maine.
That’s the problem in most former Maine mill towns. Much older apartment housing and few people to fill them. So the rents are lowered and poor people and unsavory characters from other areas move in.
Perhaps other places should take care of their own poor and problem people and stop dumping them on places like Portland, Biddeford, and Lewiston so the hard working people of those cities don’t have to pay for them.

kennebunkportindependent

You may find that the Boston Diocese and Catholic Charities have a role in placing many in those former mill towns, where housing is cheap and there is already a strong church tradition.

bootjack

A few years ago there was an issue with the Mass. Dept. of Human Services directing some of their hard core cases to Maine. There have also been incidents of Mass. Hospitals dumping patients in Maine.
We have out of state landlords who advertise in the Boston papers apartment housing in Biddeford that is close to social services. The reasons are many.

Calli Sol

Closing MERC was a big step towards revitalization.

bootjack

I’m glad MERC is gone but the City of Biddeford had problems before MERC which is why they lobbied for it to be located there. They needed jobs and activity in the downtown which was dying from the loss of the mills and people going to the mall.

Calli Sol

That non-functioning wind turbine symbolizes all that is wrong about Biddeford…didn’t Twomey play a major role in securing it?

bootjack

The wind turbine is in Saco and was put there by the Saco City Council. Twomey and Biddeford had nothing to do with it.

Calli Sol

But, “Twomey, a Democrat, represented part of Biddeford (District 135) from 1998-2006. She served on the agriculture, conservation and forestry; natural resources; ” that mean’t she was probably part of the political coalition that lobbied for the grant money which paid for the Turbine. I can’t see her NOT being involved; although you might be correct.

geowaldman

“probably??” Maybe, not.

funnycnslr

arealmainer, “Biddo” is a French community with many hard working people. To call someone’s home a cesspool rather than have a frank discussion about some of the economic issues they face tells me you are cut of the same cloth as Lepage and other judgemental haters. You have no integrity when you speak like you do.

Michael conservative

To my knowledge the governor has never assaulted someone in a public forum

bootjack

I don’t condone Twomey’s actions. My position is they were both at fault. And Lepage’s childish comments have hurt the Republican agenda more then they have helped. Just ask some Republican legislators off the record.

Calli Sol

I don’t agree; LePage is now a national figure and widely referred to in respected national journals…crude but effective.
um. ‘bomb-throwing’ Sixties radicals are a dying breed, Twomey is among them.

bootjack

They are hurting Republican efforts to get anything passed in the Maine Legislature. Remember the voters chose to opt for divided government. The Democrats hold the House. That means passing Legislation requires compromise. Maybe you and Lepage should take a civics course.

Calli Sol

Maybe I should stay out of legislative discussions with D’s and R’s?
Real time civics lessons are a lot different than what you learn in high school; esp. when the media interviews are dominated by ‘gotcha reporters’.

Sen. Katz is patron saint of moderates and oozes compromise, perhaps at all the wrong times?

bootjack

I’m not a Democrat and I’ve voted Republican probably more so than Democrat. I respect Senator Katz. In my mind he’s exactly the kind of person we want to elect to get things done.
The first lesson in government is that most of it comes from the center. Once one realizes that it becomes very easy to tailor one’s objectives so they can be passed.
Lepage would be far more productive if he dropped the ideas that will never be passed and modified them. Taxes can be reduced in Maine but it should be done by reducing government spending and not shifting taxes. It would take longer but it’s doable.
Isn’t it better to get something done then fight for the extreme?

Michael conservative

Maybe POTUS should take your advice

matissehenri

and if he did the moron crew would applaud his efforts!

Michael conservative

No we would be quite disappointed but there is not much chance of that happening

geowaldman

Assault? If there was an assault, there would be the charge. She was called on by him, he couldn’t answer her questions, told his guards to remove her which they did forcibly, and then he left. And, she threw the lubricant on the edge of the stage. That’s making national news today with the background on the governor and his reputation. Wonderful.

leastyebejudged

You’re an idiot. He’s incited violence several times in public forums.

Sen. John Patrick, D-Rumford, on April 27, 2011
“I work in an industry, a large industry, the paper industry, and many times when my company says to me ‘trust me’ what they are saying is be ready for the Vaseline because not very good things are going to happen,” Patrick said.

bootjack

You can go on and on with comments from both sides using the vaseline comment. Usually in reference to being “A vaseline salesman”. The fact is Lepage’s comment was made with the cameras running. We deserve better from a Governor.

unaffiliatedvotr

bj, you asked who made the first Vaseline comment. I answered your question. A simple “thank you for the information” would have been greatly appreciated. Some people have no manners!

care29

bj and vaseline in the same comment….oh goodness…thank you.

Calli Sol

Nope, Patrick said it on the floor of the Senate and it became part of the official record….long before LePage repeated it and after several other Democrats like Troy also used the allusion.

bootjack

So that makes it OK for Lepage to use it as well before the media? I thought we elected adults? But looking at your comment I wonder.

LibvisLearned

Thank you! Right there on the state house floor. Where was the liberal outrage?

maineincrisis

This will be brushed under the rug because she is democrat.

kennebunkportindependent

What, me worry?

No.

LibvisLearned

The MPA and Dems are secretly celebrating her hijacking a public conversation.

bootjack

Perhaps they replicated the Tea Party strategy that disrupted the health care reform town halls.

bootjack

Kinda reminds one of the health care reform information meetings a few years back where conservatives disrupted the proceedings. The problem is with both sides and how we’ve allowed public discourse to sink to a very low level.

Calli Sol

You can ban vaseline and astroglyde, but then it would really limit attendance in Portland.

James A.

Mike would have been scrambling to get that jar.

MigityMeno

Well played, sir!

Brian Peterson

Classy as usual, Bidifid!…lively though!

RoseBench

Ever notice how most militant liberal women with a bumper sticker or t-shirt that says ‘Well behaved women yadda yadda yadda’ (you know the type), are mostly single and live with a cat or two? There’s a reason for that.

Independent_Mainer

Bold assumption.

Calli Sol

Oh that car…..it usually has a ‘handicap’ tag hanging off the rear view mirror and someone driving while on a cell phone.

DefNotADem

“I voted for Walter Mondale” bumper sticker

Calli Sol

“Give Peace a Chance” is under there too.

geowaldman

Haven’t noticed that at all. The woman I know with the “well behaved women..” bumper sticker, goes home to a guy who loves a strong, smart woman who has a big dog. He’s not insecure and has no need to demean a tough woman with chauvinist, last-century smug snarking.

Ed Lorusso

LOL… Where did Lepage run away to? Back under his rock somewhere? The usual bully mentality: he can dish it, but he can’t take it.

RoseBench

Glad the governor lives in your head rent free, Ed. Every, every day.

Ed Lorusso

He could sit on yours and you wouldn’t know the difference…..

Ed Lorusso

And Lepage clearly says TAKE HER OUTA HERE while she’s trying to make a point. Can’t have any real questions at these staged right-winger events.

RoseBench

And if given the chance, you’d rather vote to have her – a worn out bitter old liberal with a tired phrase on a t-shirt – run the state. Yeah, that’s brilliant. That’ll make folks want to storm the border and live here. Watch out states with no income taxes and low cost of living. Watch out! Governor Twomey is coming for your residents!

Ed Lorusso

Type something when you can make some sense and stop the right-winger rant…. you sound deranged.

RoseBench

You value this nut in Biddeford over rational behavior. And I’m deranged? Just because I’m overwhelmingly winning the comment war against you doesn’t give you the right to be delusional. Now, I’m off to work. Someone has to pay for your voting mistakes.

Ed Lorusso

Stupid comment.

DefNotADem

Stupid comment.

geowaldman

Governor Twomey! I like that. Good idea.

Calli Sol

Better get help today; try a dementia clinic.

DefNotADem

She was voted off the island as Mayor or Biddeford. What makes you think she can win a real election.

care29

…..and those thinking Twomey would be an awesome Governor complain that LePage is an embarrassment????? But Twomey is one to be proud of? I’m confused.

I’m with you DefNotADem.

darren young

And with that it’s become obvious the vapors from your pit stained Che shirt are making you mind blind again. It’s time for you to hop back into your little clock house for another hour nap. Rest up dummy.

geowaldman

reported as spam.

darren young

Triple your meds, dummy.

geowaldman

spam

Frank Smith

Who wants to talk with a person
that is insane.

bootjack

I suspect that’s why many didn’t attend the forum. They didn’t want to talk to the Governor.

Calli Sol

or be embarrassed by a bitter hater like Twomey?

geowaldman

You do love the word “hater” Seems like a paradox.

geowaldman

She wanted to.

matissehenri

Awesome as usual, GW! Laughing this morning…

leastyebejudged

She wasn’t really trying to talk TO him so much as yell AT him though…

LibvisLearned

Wrong…. state troopers moved to contain her as soon as she charged the stage with her hand in her bag. It’s their job.

Michael conservative

How did they know it wasn’t a gun she was reaching for?

Michael conservative

Questions are one thing she wanted to rant Ed

Christopher White

That reads suspiciously like something the Gov. would say when he didn’t realize he was being recorded.

Calli Sol

Still stalking the governor or working for Tipping?

Christopher White

See above.

bootjack

Hospitals could pay their property taxes merely by reducing their top administrators’ salaries or reducing an administrative position.

kennebunkportindependent

They will cut front line staff before the administrators or directors. LePage may suggest they hire 14 year olds. He has stated they should be allowed to work for less.

Calli Sol

That’s the age of a ‘candy striper’, and they don’t get paid. Student interns are also found all over hospitals. Mid-Coast regional hospital is organized as a non-profit and over the past decade has expanded enormously. I almost think they’ve gotten too big to be taxed; but their expansion is fueled by ACA. You can’t have one huge enterprise like MidCoast untaxed, and smaller ones taxed. Even paying a token amount has long been a standard of public responsibility to local communities.

bootjack

The cuts should come from higher paid administrators who make too much as it is. If you work in Maine you cannot compare salary demands to other states. Administrators should work to scale here. Why should it come out of direct service personnel?

MigityMeno

Moon bat!

bootjack

Intelligent discourse 101.

StrangeOneClearcut

Would of been better to see the bully with his face soaked in vaseline.
We also remember his insulting comment that he had made…………….I thank this woman for standing up to the freak we have as a Governor.

2016 remove as many Republicans as we can.

Frank Smith

Good luck.

Calli Sol

As long as you keep reading those hate inducing Cartoons; you’ll always react this way. It’s called conditioning.
Counseling and anger management sessions can help you become a real member of a civil society, instead of being put on a ‘watch list’ for bomb throwing wacko’s.

strommy8

How about putting money towards roads and infrastructure to benefit residents and the tourists you think should “pay a premium” for wanting to visit Maine?

kennebunkportindependent

Just starting with patching the potholes would be welcome…..

LibvisLearned

We need to go back and ask Baldacci for the hundreds of millions he took from DOT budgets so he could expand welfare. He never repaid most of the DOT money – it was squandered by his pals at DHHS like Brenda Harvey.

Frank Smith

It is amazing the number of comments that the PPH have removed. So when a crazy person plots to attack a sitting governor the PPH thinks the comments by its readers are bullying. But if you verbally go after the Governor or his supporters they are fair game. So tell us is the remove button is Pingrees office?? This paper should have just gone out of business while it was bleeding cash. But instead it has become
the marketing department for the democrat
party.

bootjack

A newspaper is a business and has the right to moderate it’s comments.
Do you have substantial information that this person was plotting to attack the Governor? If so you should be talking to law enforcement and not spouting wild accusations.

Frank Smith

I don’t know maybe her facebook post…

Frank Smith

Bootjack – I guess I thought this was the comment section. Sorry if I offended you with my comment. PS- what a wonderful name you have was Bootjack your parents first choice?

bootjack

Frank. I didn’t mean to be sarcastic. I’ve had comments removed as well. It’s just the lay of the land.

bootjack: I don’t believe Frank Smith was referring to the commenters making comments about this crazy lady being censured and those comments being untastefully anti-LePage being just fine.
Further, read the article. This lady DID plot to attack the governor, verbally. She posted Wednesday night on her facebook page that she was going to.

Ed Lorusso

What attack was that? Her disagreement with his stupid tax plan? The only attack was when he order the guards to take her away. He had chosen her to speak, but he didn’t like what she had to say. Only ATTACK was on free speech at a forum. Get your facts straight.

Frank Smith

Mr. Lorusso, while I appricate your feedback you were not at the event. And my comments were based on facts. Not the delusions of those of you who seem to think Mrs. Or Miss Twomey actions somehow were PC…

Ed Lorusso: LePage did not order “the guards to take her away”. The STATE POLICE responded to an apparent act of aggression towards the governor. It was their decision and their responsibility.

kennebunkportindependent

Yet you read, and comment upon, it.

I guess I am as guilty, when I read or watch or comment upon anything from News Corp. The Voice of the GOP.

Variety is the spice of life, is it not? Where is the TParty paper in Maine? Why not create one? Heck, the GOP could have bought the PPH, if it had the moxie…………..

Frank Smith

I read & I comment. Yes I agree variety is the spice of life.

care29

I read from time to time when I think my blood pressure can take it. I do agree with the variety comment. I will add, we need to keep our friends close and our enemies closer. So we really must keep reading. UGH. #BloodPressureRising

Bill

Its kinda like a leftist union newsletter!

runnerdude48

I would say that the Democrats should be embarrassed this morning but then again I doubt that they would be that intelligent.

amosnme

It doesn’t seem as though the republicans are ever embarrassed about any of the foot in mouth comments that their hero has made.

leastyebejudged

Why would they be ?

To them his lying and slandering people, refusing to apologize when proven wrong, and his general all around bad behaviour is something to be proud of.

axion56

runnerdude , I guess ONE foolish , rude Democrat , w/ a notoriously bad track record , means ALL Democrats are responsible for her actions ??!! You imply that one Democrat is a fool , which indeed she is , so ALL Democrats are also fools ?? That’s a real open minded attitude .

How is it that such a sweetheart could find herself in the position of EX-politico?

axion56

She’s no sweetheart in my opinion !!

kennebunkportindependent

I must reread ‘All the King’s Men’. Haven’t read it in 45 years.

Ed Lorusso

Over Lepage head, I’m afraid…..

LibvisLearned

Obama.

Naseem

However uncool this was, and disregarding political parties and affiliations, EVERYONE has to admit that the image of Twomey Slowly pouring Vaseline over Le Paige’s head, Le Paige yelling GET ER’ OUTTA HERE! and Twomey then being dragged out of the room by cops. (“What you say” playing while she is dragged away)
Just brilliant.

Calli Sol

Would you love to see Obama insulted in the same way or are you just expressing your hatred of LePage again?

geowaldman

If the president had called on someone in the audience, as LePage did, asked her a direct question, as LePage did, he would have had the guts to answer her questions, as LePage did not, would not have asked that she be removed and then closed out the meeting and fled out the back. It was a great scene, Mr. Naseem, played well, and the governor was simply not up to it. He will always be associated with vaseline.

care29

I would have much preferred to hear Twomey say “don’t taze me bro!” while being dragged out.

Bill

The Governor is out of date on many matters. People don’t use Vaseline anymore; Astroglide is the prefered route of administration.

Calli Sol

The remark originated with a Rumford Democrat who used it, without sanction on the Senate floor a few years ago….and was applauded for it, so it ‘stuck’ in the minds of Augusta’s politico’s.

geowaldman

Well, it “sticks” in some peoples’ minds. On and on and on and will always follow this governor. Then there was the “little beards” thing, etc., on and on

Calli Sol

One does wonder if all rabid Democrats carry jars of Vaseline around with them?

amosnme

No. Lepage carries it and shares with the idiot repubs who voted for him again.

Calli Sol

And then his administration’s accomplishment’s are conveniently neglected by the PPH in favor of featuring hate mongerers like Twomey:

“Augusta – The 2015 Emerge Film Festival, which
opens April 9th in Lewiston/Auburn, will screen over 50 independent films throughout the course of the four-day festival, including more than a dozen Maine- made films. “Filming is on the rise in Maine,” says Maine Film Office Director Karen Carberry Warhola.

“Maine offers so many beautiful locations, talented crews, and film-friendly communities. The state is not overexposed on the big screen, and there’s a lot of interest in filming in Maine right now. ”

The Maine Film Office has reported an increase in film production in Maine of more than 200 percent over the past two years adding more than $10 million in spending to Maine’s economy during that period.

“For Maine’s economy to advance we need to build our workforce in all industries and bring new business into the state,” said Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Commissioner George Gervais.

“Film festivals like Emerge and others held throughout Maine show what the opportunities are in that industry, and provide our communities, residents and visitors with more to see and do in Maine.”

The PPH editors need to climb out of the cesspool they are mired in.

care29

Thank you for reminding the readers just which site we are on and reading.

I’m a registered democrat and I voted for him….I think I made the right decision

geowaldman

Why would anyone wonder that? What type of person?

Clifton Gray

They should charge Twomey with a hate crime. How typical of the “tolerant” and “peaceful” lefty to act in such a manner.

Ed Lorusso

Get a clue.

Tim

It’s actually an assault.

geowaldman

Actually, it was not which is why she was not charged. But, if she is charged it will be a good story as it goes on and on. The governor will want the story to fade fast. Or he could have answered her questions after calling on her instead of telling his security people to remove her then fleeing out the back door.

LibvisLearned

Why didn’t the PPH include this: the Vaseline joke was first used on the Maine State House floor by DEMOCRAT Sen. John Patrick? Yeah.

bootjack

Probably because Patrick said it in the course of a debate not grandstanding in front of the Media.

Calli Sol

The media covered the debate as well. try again.

Michael Davolio

Irrespective of whether Twomey was right, I hope Mainers don’t lose sight of the fact that replacing the income tax with higher sales taxes gives huge breaks to the wealthy, while hurting the poor and the middle class.

Bill

No it does not! It gives the poor more incentive to better themselves and earn more money knowing the government wont steal it from them!

Of course it benefits the rich as well….WHY DISCRIMINATE? RICH FOLK ARE CITIZENS TOO!

Robert Fowler

Bill … it is not “benefits the rich as well” you see there is no “as well” involved … it does not benefit ALL it only benefits the wealthy … but someone who is living paycheck to paycheck (ie: has maybe $20 left over each month IF THAT) can not afford to pay more EVERY SINGLE DAY – therefore breaking them down further and making it that much more difficult to ever see a day when a savings account is a possibility … while the wealthy .. don’t even notice the change in the spending habit and have no need to adjust there day to day life … like for example eating 2 meals instead of 3

Michael Davolio

*sigh* Bill, The middle class and the poor pay a MUCH higher percentage of their earnings on sales taxes than the rich. The sales tax is the most regressive form of taxation there is.

gzizzle

If they get a tax credit, then the poor do not pay a higher percentage. What part of that don’t you understand? Christ, you are like a broken record. No wonder why Democrats are in the minority these days.

Tim

Don’t forget that that the poor ALSO get the Earned Income Tax Credit which is basically “free” money — the poor look at April 15th like a day they win the lotto.

Geoff

Do you not understand the term “poor”? If you make jack squat, you pay jack squat in taxes and you can get it all back because it still is just jack squat. I guess it could be the special Jack Squat lotto, Clear enough for you?

Chris978

Let’s not forget the Illegals that also receive the EITC!! Everything’s free in America!!

care29

actually most have filed at HR BLOCK by Feb 10th and have their money within a couple days and pay to get it back quicker. EIC really only serves HR Block. Think about it. Every person I know due back thousands by way of EIC pays HR Block for that speedy return.
When I was amongst the working poor, I received EIC, I filed my own taxes (basic math, not too hard) and I had earned 9k for a year and my return was $4200. I have a bank account and had direct deposit, I had my return within days.

EIC is scam. I never should have received four thousand two hundred back when I only earned nine thousand. You cannot file without EIC if you qualify for it. The IRS holds up your return, files it accordingly and sends the EIC along. EVEN IF YOU DONT WANT IT!!!!

Joanne T Twomey

Sick

leastyebejudged

Instead of backing up your (false) assertion, you write insulting BS.

If you had the facts on your side, you’d state them with a source.

Lying and insulting is the best your kind can manage.

Geoff

So the only reason people, including the poor, don’t “better themselves” is because the govt will just “steal it from them”? That is incredibly illogical and wealthy people are either really stupid or, more likely, playing us fools to believe this nonsense.

rob G

Raised in the wonderful city of Biddeford has a proud democrat. It is sad to say we elected this person to be Mayor more than once. I think the Gov. has done ok, tax plans in general are going to draw critics and the town hall was a good way to address and allow people to express their view, but Twoomey as usual has to bring attention to herself. She has always tried to be in the spotlight. The town hall meeting should be a place for civil debate.

care29

Raised in Saco and a Biddo transplant and a Republican, first time I can say I agree with a Biddo Dem. Thank you!!!!

Joanne T Twomey

A proud democrat would not think this Governor had done O.K> It is people like you that re-elected him. What is civil debate, I am not allowed to let him know how much his budget is hurting people? Let’s see civil debate someone like Richard Nass a republican who was chosen to ask a soft ball question?

LibvisLearned

No – the Governor’s budget includes a sales tax credit for the lower-income in Maine. Keep trying.

Michael Davolio

Even with the provision of a “sales tax credit,” the poor will pay a much higher percentage of their income in taxes than will the rich. BTW — is the Governor does away with the income tax, where does one apply a sales tax credit?

Tim

The “poor” also use a much greater percentage of the benefits the taxes provide. Regardless, we’re all Americans, we’re all enjoying the benefits, and we should all be paying into it. The fact that only half of us are paying income taxes is not only unfair, it’s unsustainable.

Spread the tax around!

BigJared

Taxing people with very little money won’t provide much revenue (because they don’t have much money) and it takes money out of the economy as they tend to spend what they have.

It sounds okay as a soundbite but it doesn’t mean anything when confronted with math.

care29

My thought behind everybody having some skin in the game is not meant to generate revenue. My reason for everyone paying in something/ anything a dollar or ten thousand dollars, is that if they have some of their own dollars invested into the state and feds maybe just maybe they’d pay attention to the elected officials and their actions. And of course perhaps they’d pay closer attention to who they vote for. Just maybe….

care29

I say everybody should have to pay in. Whether it is a dollar or ten thousand dollars. If you have some skin in the game you may pay attention a bit closer to the players, jus sayin.

Joanne T Twomey

Absolutely, just read it and see how this would not even begin to help them.

Geoff

Ask Washington state how a state with no income tax

gzizzle

Ask Florida and Texas how they fare. They are doing much better than Maine.

zendoggie

Texas and Florida have a diverse business base and large population. In truth, Maine’s economy has been shaky for the last, oh say. 150 years.

Geoff

Florida – where 1/2 the eastern seaboard goes to spend their money and many, to retire? The same state that OJ moved all his assets to so as to protect them from the civil case against him because they have such lax laws regarding “income”? Perhaps.
But come on — Texas? With the highest number of folks needing public assistance, no health care and below the poverty line —- and that’s BETTER than Maine. Visit the dump and report back. They’re not all Jerry Jones, you know.

Joanne T Twomey

Never go back indeed, cost shift from the wealthiest Mainers to the poorest.

Joanne T Twomey

Have you looked at that sales tax credit?

LibvisLearned

Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? Examine your conscience, please.

care29

Thank you.

Michael Davolio

How, pray tell, does one get a sales tax credit when the governor eliminates the income tax? How’s that for trying?

Joanne T Twomey

Absolutely.

Bill

This latest violent democratic action is one Saul Alinsky tactic that will not be tolerated!

Attend an anger management class democrats! Violence is not the answer!

Talis

Idiot. The right uses the same Alinsky tactics. Stop listening to reichwing media and do some research if you even know how to use a search engine.

Bill

Please use that search engine you speak of…there are absolutely no examples of Conservatives using any tactic that Saul Alinsky promoted!

We detest anything/everything that the left/progressives/democrats/communists/socialists/marxists/statists support!

Christopher White

Sometimes it get very difficult to separate witty parody from inane repetition of hyper-partisan memes. Sadly, this is likely the latter.

Talis

You are pretty stupid.
Both parties use his community organizing methods.
It really is that simple. But you cannot understand simple ideas.

crankyd

…and yeah… that’s the level of discourse you’ve earned.

Joanne T Twomey

I could not agree more, violence on our seniors, , violence on our environment. holding land for maine’s future hostage, taxing non profits like our hospitals, and not accepting one hundred percent funding for medicare is very violent to me. You right wingers love jails, I have no firearms, don’t believe in them.

Gene Masseth

I cannot support Ms. Twomey’s tactics, but I think some legislators might appreciate them when the governor delivers on his promise of ripping some new ones.

LemmyKilmister

Sometimes you have to talk to the governor in the only language he understands.

Kafir911

Looks like Chicago style politics has unfortunately come to Maine. Is Twomey looking for a cabinet post in NerO’s administration?

Joanne T Twomey

I am not looking for anything except speaking up for the people who are suffering, to tax non profits our hospital does the best work for the poor then most. He asked me a question and I replied. I am no longer a politician, I am a private citizen, and I will continue to stand up for issues I care about, whether you like it or not.

Kafir911

The people who are suffering the most are those who have been lead to believe that Progressive/Marxist/socialist ideas will mean a better life for them. We’ve been going down that path on a Federal level since Wilson, FDR, Johnson, Carter, Clinton and now NerO. In Maine John Baldacci was no different than they were. NO ONE wants to deny help for the TRULY needy. It is the able bodied free-loaders and welfare cheats who are ruining it for them. Great leaders have to make TOUGH decisions not govern on emotions. LePage is doing what he sees is right and is not a typical pantie-waisted tax and spend liberal. Get over it!

Geoff

I see you seem to have conveniently forgotten these pillars of American history
Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D Rockefeller, Charles Schwab ……

Kafir911

Capitalism is by far the best economic system on the planet. Entrepreneurs and businesses created the wealth we all enjoy as Americans, not government. Just compare North Korea with South Korea for God’s sake.

Are there flaws? of course. Is there crony capitalism? Yes. However, it’s primarily the hypocritical limousine liberals who rail against capitalism but benefit from its largess through corruption and backroom deals.

The “pillars of American history” should be applauded for their risk taking and wealth creation which, in turn, has helped far more people have more material goods and a higher standard of living that is the envy of the world. Go try your tired worn out arguments elsewhere. I’m not buying them.

Geoff

I think the conservatives (1 percent) have more in common with North Korea than South Korea but perhaps that’s your point.

Kim Jong Koch?
Risk taking? You make me laugh. I will give you wealth creation though, albeit only their own and on the backs of the working class.

You not “buying” my argument because you can’t afford to?

Kafir911

Blah, blah blah. The Koch Brothers are evil and George Soros is a saint. F’ you, F’ Obama and F’ the Progressive Left-wing P.O.S. in the MSM.

Geoff

Tell us how you really feel but remember your blood pressure!

leastyebejudged

Calling what we have here in the US “Capitalism” is an overt, outright lie;

you are a liar.

Kafir911

Watch the DVD, “Agenda, Grinding America Down” and maybe you’ll begin to understand the damage the Left is doing to the country. But, rather than understand the facts you, no doubt, prefer to insult people who do and keep your head buried in the sand….or another place closer than the beach.

care29

Coolidge was our last trustworthy President. Wilson, not so cool, he started up the income tax. And from there we had FDR and the new deal. The rest speaks for itself. ARGH…these people that think the government is here to help them, lordy oh lordy….

I do love me some Reagan, but he was a bit of spender and he had amnesty crap. Outside of that I adored good ol’Ronnie. I also loved me some 41 and 43. Both class acts. Yes, big government Repubs, not so cool. But gosh darn it if 43 didn’t keep us safe after 9/11. Unlike the O & his band of merry-men in the oval today.

care29

“You can call me every name in the book, you can question my public
service, but having been elected and serving for eighteen years, I must
have done something right.”
__________
The above is a QUOTE from your other response to another poster made today as well. Convenient that in one comment you are a private citizen but in the other comment you have been an elected official and serving for 18 years. You and I know and everybody else does too that you are not currently holding an office. You are indeed a private citizen. I’m sure it’s in the reading comprehension and the writing. I doubt that you meant to sound as though you still hold office. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. I’ve been known to make such errors in typing, who hasn’t right? I just felt this overwhelming need to point out that you tend to change your tune depending on the person you are speaking with. (or in the case responding by way of keyboard to). You still fail to mention you lost your last THREE elections, so you must have done something wrong…too.

zendoggie

I’m no fan of LePage, but that’s a pretty push-league performance by Twomey. When discourse stoops this low it does no service to Maine.

gzizzle

Busch League..

geowaldman

He called on her. He did not answer her questions and directed his security people to remove her. Bush-league. He stirs the pot, creates chaos where there was none in every department and area of government he touches.

zendoggie

I guess you see what you want to see. He called on her. She escalated to screaming way too quickly.

Again, I’m no fan of LePage but her behavior does no favors for her argument; it merely supplies LePage justification to discount criticism.

geowaldman

I guess you see what you want to see.

Geoff

I agree. The policy being proposed is going to shaft the poor but the Vaseline stunt was just stupid and took away from the argument to be made.

Joanne T Twomey

When budgets shift the cost from the wealthiest to the poorest Mainers I will speak up, Yes having been taken out because they did not like what I was saying is stooping very low. The seniors feel someone was standing up for them, and the hugs and kisses I am getting and the Thank You cards lets me know that they are worth fighting for.

zendoggie

I appreciate you responding here in the comments and having the guts to explain why you did what you did. I am also on your side from a policy standpoint.

But not taking the high-road when dealing with Tea Party types just gives them permission to avoid explaining the impact of their decision on real people’s lives. It makes the debate about personality, not policy.

john white

not saying it was right………..but considering the governor ………………………………..

Joanne T Twomey

Where has right gotten us? I am sickened the way the people of this State are being treated, if you think that it is OK for a ninety year old man with his eighty eight year old wife to have waited hours to beg not to pass this budget because he cannot afford to pay his oil and medication next year, is this the way we have to live, it is not OK with me. I have had it with all of you judging me saying I don’t agree but, If you do not have the courage of your convictions that is your problem not mine. You can call me every name in the book, you can question my public service, but having been elected and serving for eighteen years, I must have done something right.

care29

didn’t you lose your last two or was it three elections?

walkeradfa

despite the proven fact that the middle class is decimated, and the spread between rich and poor grows, this governor seeks to add regressive taxation, and burden the lower income. broken mentality.

geowaldman

There’s no end to greed.

gzizzle

Typical Democrat. Can’t wait her turn, can’t play by the rules and stomps her feet when she doesn’t get her way.

geowaldman

He called on her.

Scooby

Thank you!

care29

after she was seen shaking her head in disagreement she was called on. she brought the vaseline with her in hopes of handing it to him, HER WORDS. She posted on her Facebook the night before what she wanted to do. She stated in an interview after the fatc, that the only polite thing to do was to answer him…and her way of being polite is acting out like a child, screaming and tossing things on a stage. Great way to grab another headline #CLOWN

Joanne T Twomey

I did not act out I was merely replying to his bankrupt policies. He did not like what I was saying so they grabbed me. the Vaseline was only giving him back his own practice. I tossed it had I wanted to throw it I would have had ample opportunity to do so, I was waiting to be called on, I sat there and listened to other questions, but when he asked me why I was shaking my head, did I not agree with him, I took this opportunity to reply, If I made people uncomfortable, get over it, what he is about to do to the most vulnerable of this state, pales in comparison to what you all think about me.

care29

IMO, you should take this opportunity now that the State and Nation has their eyes on you to discuss a better tax plan that helps those that you repeatedly say you represent or those who can’t speak for themselves.

BTW, La Kermesse Parade last summer, Gov. LePage was in it, I was with him on the float. I walked back from BMS after the parade proudly with his lawn sign under my arm. You hollered out to me,
while passing me and another woman, that you would never vote for that man. You were loud and obnoxious and speaking to two of your former tax paying citizens in a tone and manner that was quite childish. I was embarrassed and amused all at once.

geowaldman

pleasure

Jody Garceau

Love it! Where can I send a jar to the Governor? He apparently has a fixation.

Daniel

The Governor should have bent her over and used the Vaseline to… well… you know. 😉

BigJared

These are the all the talking points that were used to sell the Bush tax cuts.
That didn’t work as promised but it did work as intended. Conservatives rail against ‘wealth redistribution’ unless is redistributing toward the 1%.

Scooby

I hope this divisive **** head is happy that he has stirred the pot to the point where he has to have security remove people who question him.

Scooby

The thing is, we already figured out what works best almost 70 years ago. These neo-reich tax concepts are like a bad fad diet. There’s no magic pill or miracle cure under a rock where we haven’t looked. They simply don’t work.. How many more years of this can we take? How many more dilapidated roads and bridges will we drive on? A progressive tax hurts the least and helps the most. Anything else is pure greed. Talk about faded glory.

Joanne T Twomey

I would like to respond to all these comments, judge me if you will, call me names, but do not loose site of what this budget is going to do to the elderly, head start, revenue sharing, teacher pensions, more trees being cut for revenue, and letting the wealthiest Mainers pay no tax and having to make up that revenue on the backs of the poor. Spending more money on Judges and our enforcemen while cutting funds to help those who are addicted. Some of your hatred absolutely discourages me, I could go on, if you think being manhandled is fun think again.I have the courage of my convictions and it was more important to tell this Governor what I thought then an thing you have written about me. I leave you with this picture, a ninety year old man and his eighty eight year old wife, waiting for hours to testify to beg and plead not to pass this budget because he cannot pay for his oil and medicine next winter.

geowaldman

Your priorities are sound. Thank you for having the commitment and the integrity to challenge the bully. Your unanswered questions from your heart to him as he closed down the meeting and fled out the back door should be asked by all of us.

Carmen Lucas

Looks like another frustrated Maine man-beast.

Nomdeguerre

Wow! Where to start? I’m going to approach this from a PR perspective since battle of the issues is covered ad naseum.

What a hot mess of a governor and staff. First, is this his PR person who doesn’t let go of the mic and chuckles about time as a former reporter? A. Who cares B. That’s not how you run a town hall. It looks like you don’t trust your constituents. They are not children. Let them hold the mic. Amateur hour.

Bravo Twomey and her attempt at exercising her right to free speech. It’s always fun to watch the governor squirm and lose his cool. Shame on Lepage for shutting it down, over Vaseline and a bit of passion for a cause. Lepage’s team’s response was over the top on site and spokesperson Peter Steele’s response in the statement above is overblown – Lepage was hardly rushed. The Vaseline is much needed – to unlodge the mic from your team’s fearful grip if nothing else.

Is this the same team failing to advise the governor to never apologize, especially when LePage gets it blatantly wrong as he recently did with Stephen King. Humility – it’s communications 101 and a basic tenet of human relations. A leader who will not apologize when appropriate is not a leader on any level. Such a leader is a bully and a narcissist.

This is an unpolished bunch of big fish in a small pond. And not the endearing, folksy lack of polish. The rest of the country sees this governor as a buffoon and it’s an embarrassment. But I did very much enjoy watching the bulky staff member jammed in the corner by the door while the one afraid to part with the mic ran to assist in the Great Vaseline Attack of 2015. The whole crew seems afraid and ready to run, flip charts in tow. Town hall fail. Communication fail. Pure comedy. Stay slippery, LePage & co. Your time in office will be up soon enough. If you have designs beyond Maine, luckily the country at large will never tolerate your hubris.

Morgan Clara

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BELA

I AM BELA i want to give thanks and i will always give thanks to Dr Aluyama who brought back my love that has left me for 6years within 48hours, i have said about this last week but i promised to always tell people about this every week end so that those that did not read about it last week will read about it this week, i have been looking for how to get this boy back to my life because i love this boy with the whole of my heart, i could not replace him with any body,one day i was watching my television when i saw a lady giving thanks to Dr Aluyama and telling the world how he helped her i was so shocked i could not believe it because i never taught that there are powers that can bring back lost love, then that was how i decided to contact him too because i do really need my love back,when i contacted him i told him everything and he told me not to worry that my love will surely be back to my arms within 48hours at first i could not believe because i was thinking how could somebody that has gone for 6years come back within 48 hours,so then i decided to watch and see,unbelievable within the next 48hours i got a call from unknown number so i decided to pick the call the next thing i could hear was my loves voice he was pleading and begging me on the phone that i should forgive him that i should forget all that have happened that he did not know what came over him,he promised not to leave for any reason, that he was really sorry for what he did,i was so surprised because i never believed that this could happen,so that was how i accepted his apology and the next morning he came to my house and still pleading for me to forgive him i told him that everything is okay that i have forgiven him, that was how we started again and now we are married, i promised to say this testimony in radio station, commenting this testimony is still okay but before this month runs out i promise to say this in radio station and i will,sir thank you very much.World please am begging you people to try and thank this man for me,or if you need his help here is his email address: [email protected]

BELA

Everyone need to know of this great spell caster that brought my boyfriend back to me within 48 hours he took away all my years of sadness in just 48 hours i am living with my boyfriend now in peace and he treats me with so much respect. you can reach this great man Dr Peterwise on his email [email protected] or call him on +2347031362391